Short description:The Asotin Creek Wildlife Area (Schlee Acquisitions) provide habitat for salmonid species residing in George Ck and Asotin Creek as well as upland wildlife as mitigation for losses of wildlife habitat due to dams on the lower Snake and Columbia rivers.

Maintain fences each year on a timely basis. Maintain buildings and associated water systems.

167-170

Maintain and enhance habitat for upland wildlife

Maintain vegetation on both units to hold big game animals on agency land. Ensure that approximately 475 acres of agricultural land seeded to native grass in 2008 reaches maturity and thrives. Maintain 125 acres of annual forage foodplots seeded to mainly winter wheat, canola or other crops for big-game retention.

Asotin

Work cooperatively with RMEF and local sportsmen organizations for support funding for annual foodplots and other wildlife enhancement projects.

167-170

Restore Riparian Areas

Restore riparian areas through weed control and possible tree and shrub plantings

Description: Monitor and evaluate habitat responce to various treatments such as herbicide application and seeding native grass.

Plant Vegetation

Plant Big Game Forage Food Plots

Maintain and enhance habitat for upland wildlife

10/1/2009

9/30/2012

48,000

Yes

Description: On a yearly basis, plant big game forage crops with the main intent of holding elk on Smoothin Iron ridge away from adjacent private agricultural lands. The Forage plots are planted on approximately 120 acres which was formally farmed by the sharecropper. In 2 spring 2008, the sharecropper announced he was was no longer going to raise wheat on 600 acres of agricultural lands on Smoothing Iron Ridge. The 600 acres of wheat ground has a long history of providing a food source and attractant for big game - mainly elk. The majority of the fields was seeded to native grass with the exception of 120 acres which will continue to be planted to winter wheat and other desirable annual vegetation for wildlife.

Operate and Maintain Habitat/Passage/Structure

Maintain seeded agricultural fields

Maintain and enhance habitat for upland wildlife

10/1/2009

9/30/2012

72,000

Yes

Description: In the fall of 2008, approximately 480 acres of former agricultural fields were seeded to native grass as a result of the sharecropper abruptly announcing that he was no longer interested in raising wheat crops on the fields. With no interest from other potential farmers, WDFW seeded the majority of the fields to native grass. Though recently seeded, a number of treatments are necessary to ensure success of grass seeding. Those treatments include: herbicide application, mowing and some potential reseeding. Treatments will be most intensive the first few years and will fade as the grass matures.

work element budget total:

465,443

Section 8. Budget

Item

Note

FY 2010 cost ($)

FY 2011 cost ($)

FY 2012 cost ($)

Personnel

Includes benefits and overall increase of 2% per year for salary increases over the period (COLA).

The ISRP thanks the Agency for responding to our requests for the grazing plan and the explanation for maintaining the agricultural fields on the property. The ISRP qualifies its recommendation with an explicit expectation that results of monitoring vegetation and wildlife response to grazing will be included in the next review cycle.

The reviewers request:
a) A clear justification for maintaining the agricultural fields.
b) More details on how they plan to restore habitat. They mention replanting native plants. Please provide some methodological detail about this restoration. For example, what plants seeds will be used?
c) A better link among objectives, work elements, and M&E.
The objectives need to be more detailed. For example, please describe in greater detail in the M&E section where and when you will sample the vegetation using vegetation sampling points. We would like to see an example of a grazing plan if cattle are going to be managed on the Project.
d) That any M&E work completed since 2004 be summarized, including bird surveys, elk counts, deer counts, sheep counts, vegetation response to plantings/restoration, and weed control efforts.